Q&A with Will

Hometown: Groton Long Point, CT

Where do you live: Charleston, SC

Wearing: he Alue Nine in Matte Noir.

What do you do? College Admissions Counselor.

What is your favorite food? Lobster Grilled Cheese from Ford’s Lobster in Noank, Connecticut.

"I’d love to revitalize abandoned mill buildings across New England. There’s so much potential for these large structures. Vacated well-built warehouses with tall windows allowing for natural light should not be going to waste. Each mill offers its own unique history, so why not add to their lineage with new life and purpose for future generations to utilize."

What is the best adventure you have taken your Alues on since you have been together? Entranced by the ocean I one way or another always find myself walking the beach gazing out at the waves, and my Alue Nine’s have only furthered enhanced this. During a week in Maine this past fall I don’t remember taking my Alues off apart from sleeping. Exploring the rocky coast from Acadia to Popham Beach was definitely when I discovered my world through Alue.

If you could plan a week long dream trip, where would you go and what would it entail? My “wanderlist” grows everyday, but right now it would have to be Newfoundland. Being the first spit of land on North America to catch sunrise, I would scoop up a mountain bike for an morning ride; do some iceberg chasing along with whale watching; take in the music at their annual folk festival and end the week camping and climbing through Gros Morne National Park.

What creative outlet do you get the most satisfaction from? Photography first and foremost. Capturing life around me in images allows me to look back at my favorite experiences. Also cooking. Being an amateur foodie I get my fix by experimenting with new ingredients in the kitchen and indulging in the final product. I would secretly love to be a photographer for a food magazine; shoot the dishes and then enjoy them after.

Whats the difference between life as Yankee and a Southern Gent? Having spent the past six years below the Mason-Dixon line I’d say the differences are rather subtle yet still significant. With the warmer climate our beach season generally spans from April – October, so a little more sunscreen is a must. If you order tea, its going to come with ice and it will be sweet. And you may find yourself ditching the necktie a bit more frequently and throwing on a bow instead.

You're passionate about restoration - if you could restore any building which would you choose? No one particular site at the moment but I’d love to revitalize abandoned mill buildings across New England. There’s so much potential for these large structures. Vacated well-built warehouses with tall windows allowing for natural light should not be going to waste. Each mill offers its own unique history, so why not add to their lineage with new life and purpose for future generations to utilize.

Have you ready any good books recently? A little behind on this one, but I just finished up Life of Pi and thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m also in a magazine phase right now and love the periodicals Garden & Gun and The Atlantic.

You travel a lot for work - any fun horror stories about places you've had to stay? I’m not sure how “fun” I would describe a horror story but I’ve had a handful of eerie overnights across the Northeast. I recall one specific spot on Montauk in late October. I arrived after check in to a dimly lit row of motel rooms overlooking a quiet beach. Eventually found a mailbox next to a tattered sign that read “Front Office,” with two envelopes inside each sealed with a bit of scotch tape. One had my name and room number on it, the second labeled for another guest. I sought out my room and went straight to bed. I woke up the next morning to run the beach, packed up and left shortly after all without seeing a single person. No real horror but the emptiness of a regularly bustling summer haven gave the feeling I was back in an old Hitchcock film. I also wonder if the other tenant ever checked-in…

Place you want to move next and why? Being born in Boston and living outside the city for my early childhood, I see myself settling back there later in life. Currently aiming for a future preservation career, Boston would be the perfect canvas for me to work with its historic architecture mixed with new urban development. Plus the ultimate end goal is to get season tickets at Fenway.